Services

Nurses 'have no time to care'

Half of nurses are working through breaks or beyond their shift, revealing a health service under "severe strain", a new report has warned.

A survey of almost 3,000 nurses by Unison showed that two thirds believed they didn't spend enough time with patients, which most said affected care.

Three out of five of those questioned felt that staff numbers led to lower standards of care, while almost half said they were looking after eight or more patients.

The report, Running on Empty, said half of nurses were not confident about raising any concerns they had with their local managers

Gail Adams, Unison's head of nursing, said: "One of the most damaging findings of this survey is how little has changed since last year. Despite all the government rhetoric, despite the Francis, Keogh and Cavendish reports, the spectre of another Mid Staffs still looms large over the NHS. Progress on safe staffing levels has been glacial and that means poorer care and patients still at risk.

"It's clear that despite nurses working through breaks and beyond their hours, they simply do not have enough time to give patients the care and attention they need. That is distressing for patients and for the staff trying to care for them.

"The Government needs to face up to the damage it is inflicting on patients and staff, by not introducing legally enforceable nurse to patient ratios, and take urgent action."

The union claimed that the survey also revealed an "over use" of agency staff in the NHS.

In another study last week, Unison said the ambulance service was on the verge of breaking down because of stress levels among staff.

The issues will be debated at Unison's health conference in Brighton, which opens today.

Comments

Why not hire more nurses or offer overtime as opposed to hiring in agency workers who may be less experienced and cost much much more?

Why not hire more nurses or offer overtime as opposed to hiring in agency workers who may be less experienced and cost much much more?Phototoxin

Why not hire more nurses or offer overtime as opposed to hiring in agency workers who may be less experienced and cost much much more?

Score: 1

welshmen
12:11pm Mon 14 Apr 14

Sack some of the Managers use that money and £1 Billion from the foreign aid budget to train our own, get Sisters and more Staff nurses back on the wards as was, we have them here out of work ready to be taught....But our Government would rather take them from Foreign Countries who need them more the us...

Sack some of the Managers use that money and £1 Billion from the foreign aid budget to train our own, get Sisters and more Staff nurses back on the wards as was, we have them here out of work ready to be taught....But our Government would rather take them from Foreign Countries who need them more the us...welshmen

Sack some of the Managers use that money and £1 Billion from the foreign aid budget to train our own, get Sisters and more Staff nurses back on the wards as was, we have them here out of work ready to be taught....But our Government would rather take them from Foreign Countries who need them more the us...

Score: -1

Andrew:Oxford
1:07pm Mon 14 Apr 14

The spokesperson for the Union didn't sound very confident on Radio 4 this morning when asked about the data quality of the stats.

The spokesperson for the Union didn't sound very confident on Radio 4 this morning when asked about the data quality of the stats.Andrew:Oxford

The spokesperson for the Union didn't sound very confident on Radio 4 this morning when asked about the data quality of the stats.

Score: -1

Huw Thomas
7:28am Mon 21 Apr 14

Finger on the pulse management style is required and that is exactly what matrons provided. Nurses need to be trained in the ward and not in ''university''. They need to get down and do some cleaning which should humble the attitudes that ''education'' makes to proud to work.

Finger on the pulse management style is required and that is exactly what matrons provided. Nurses need to be trained in the ward and not in ''university''. They need to get down and do some cleaning which should humble the attitudes that ''education'' makes to proud to work.Huw Thomas

Finger on the pulse management style is required and that is exactly what matrons provided. Nurses need to be trained in the ward and not in ''university''. They need to get down and do some cleaning which should humble the attitudes that ''education'' makes to proud to work.

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